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2ZH3H High five! Lady Wildcats celebrate after snapping their losing streak. See sports page 10 E Friday, October 10, 1997 www.weber.edusignpost Volume 60 Number 14 Ml ' J t-3 i- ir" a Wearing away artificial barriers of race By Rebecca Wangsgard asst. news editor-The Signpost Man Saunders, founder of the Institute of Interracial Harmony, spoke Thursday about many issues dealing with race and prejudice. Saunders began by stating that she didn't agree with the word "interracial" because it implies that there are races out there that need to learn to interact and relate with each other. "In reality.. .there is only one race, and that is the human race," Saunders said. "Race is a political and social classification, not a biological one." Saunders received applause from several in the audience on this point and various others. She said that race, bigotry, prejudice and discrimination are all expressions of feeling and are not necessarily based on fact. According to Saunders, the way to overcome these emotions is through intellect. However, this is difficult to do with humans. "Intelligence, character and decency are not defined by the color of one's skin," she said. "What's true about these characteristics is that they can be found and exist in all ethnic groups in varying degrees." Saunders cited various sources, including geneticists, that support this statement. "Except for skin color and some minor physical differences, genetically speaking, there is no such thing as races," Saunders said. When asked what race she belongs to, Saunders looks at them and replies, "Human, what else?" Many in attendance agreed with Saunders response. "I just like how she put across the point that we're all human, and I think people need to quit being the victim," Wendy Rasmussen, a WSU student, said. Saunders said that people can't help but make conclusions from generalizations, leading to stereotypes. Inherent to stereotypical thinking is the tendency to judge groups of people on false premises, Saunders said. "This in turn hampers one's ability to see a person as an individual," Saunders said. Tony Castillo, an African American student at WSU, has experienced stereotypical reactions on campus. "I'll walk by and a girl will grab her purse," he said. "It's crazy." Saunders said stereotyping leads to racism; however, the way a person was raised and their relationship with their parents has even more of an effect. 'They usually lacked an affectionate, warm, unconditionally accepting parent or parents, and as a result, they grew up craving a sort of identity and authority in their relationships," Saunders said. "Having no feeling of equality in the home, the child can't grasp the concept of equality." Saunders feels it is important to reach children with important concepts of equality. Her organization tries to implement programs in New York public schools to help counteract some of the messages that many children re-See Racism page 5 Gender equity compliance needs boost By Patrick Parkinson campus affairs editor-The Signpost As society continues to diversify, enormous pressure is placed on its institutions to comply with legislation like Title IX. Created by the federal office of civil rights, Title IX attempts to provide all students, regardless of gender, comparable athletic opportunities. Weber State University's level of Title IX compliance was discussed Thursday by four experts from across WSU's campus. Issues were raised concerning the campus' proportion of male and female athletes compared to students. This proportion comprises an important element of Title IX 's three-prong test for determining legal compliance. "Title IX of the 1 972 Education Amendment applies to lots of different aspects of how institutions operate, but where it gets the most publicity is in the area of athletics," director of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, Barry Gomberg said. Title IX began requiring universities to provide equally for male and female student athletes with a proportional number of athletic offerings. Gomberg explained a three-prong test developed by the office of civil rights for determining if a university is acting within the boundaries of the law. The test applies to secondary schools as well as higher education. "The first part of the test is proportionality," Gomberg said. "What that basically means is that a school will be considered in compliance if the percentage or proportion of male to female athletes is approximately equal to the percentage of male to female students in the student body." Gomberg said when WSU began working on this proportion about six years ago, the school was off by over 20 percent. "We are how below 10 percent," he said. "Nine percent, however, is not close enough." Title IX calls for compliance within five percent. "We do not satisfy the proportionality," Gomberg said. A factor often having a tremendous effect on a university's proportionality is their football program. Because of the staggering size of many university football programs, it's difficult for an institution to provide a proportional number of female athletic offerings. WSU, in the past few years, has taken two major steps toward satisfying the second prong of the Title IX test. By reintroducing women's golf and promoting women's soccer from a club level to NCAA intercollegiate play, Gomberg said, the univer- See Equity page 3 Budget cuts squeeze out staff positions By Colleen K. Hales news writer-The Signpost As the second year of the budget-reduction plan slices more out of the university's and its departments' budgets, some Weber State University staff positions are disappearing. The university has cut 20 staff positions over the last two years. Fortunately, these positions were eliminated through attrition, but service departments are finding the work is only increasing while the staff is not. The purchasing office had two buyer positions cut when the director retired. One purchaser moved into the director's position at a lower salary, and his position was not replaced. Another position was simply eliminated when a second buyer retired. This saved $44,000 for the current year. "We're struggling," said Fred Hansen, di- WSU's Budget Signpost series'Part 6 of 6 rector of purchasing. " We're not really getting it done." Hansen said the purchasing staff is working with two new services, so they can meet demands: electronic requisitioning and a purchasing card. Departments can use electronic requisitioning to cut down on the paperwork and red tape. See Budget page 5 ' -I at I 1 v - i ft vu i id -3-I 1 j KWCR general manager Cody Loveland and sister Tessa Loveland (above) pay tribute to Vanilla Ice at Fun Flicks held Thursday in the Junction. The first activity of its kind at WSU, Fun Flicks gave students a chance to perform in an interactive music video. Sponsored by the Off Broadway committee from WSU's Campus Activities Board, students were able to choose from a variety of musical works spanning several decades. Students (right) had a tubular time with their rendition of the Beach Boys' classic "Surfin' Safari." 'I 4 I -; 1 rl! inside post news seepage 2 &3 1 editorial see page 4 a&e see page 6 SpOftS see page 10 classifieds ... .see page 12

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2ZH3H High five! Lady Wildcats celebrate after snapping their losing streak. See sports page 10 E Friday, October 10, 1997 www.weber.edusignpost Volume 60 Number 14 Ml ' J t-3 i- ir" a Wearing away artificial barriers of race By Rebecca Wangsgard asst. news editor-The Signpost Man Saunders, founder of the Institute of Interracial Harmony, spoke Thursday about many issues dealing with race and prejudice. Saunders began by stating that she didn't agree with the word "interracial" because it implies that there are races out there that need to learn to interact and relate with each other. "In reality.. .there is only one race, and that is the human race," Saunders said. "Race is a political and social classification, not a biological one." Saunders received applause from several in the audience on this point and various others. She said that race, bigotry, prejudice and discrimination are all expressions of feeling and are not necessarily based on fact. According to Saunders, the way to overcome these emotions is through intellect. However, this is difficult to do with humans. "Intelligence, character and decency are not defined by the color of one's skin," she said. "What's true about these characteristics is that they can be found and exist in all ethnic groups in varying degrees." Saunders cited various sources, including geneticists, that support this statement. "Except for skin color and some minor physical differences, genetically speaking, there is no such thing as races," Saunders said. When asked what race she belongs to, Saunders looks at them and replies, "Human, what else?" Many in attendance agreed with Saunders response. "I just like how she put across the point that we're all human, and I think people need to quit being the victim," Wendy Rasmussen, a WSU student, said. Saunders said that people can't help but make conclusions from generalizations, leading to stereotypes. Inherent to stereotypical thinking is the tendency to judge groups of people on false premises, Saunders said. "This in turn hampers one's ability to see a person as an individual," Saunders said. Tony Castillo, an African American student at WSU, has experienced stereotypical reactions on campus. "I'll walk by and a girl will grab her purse," he said. "It's crazy." Saunders said stereotyping leads to racism; however, the way a person was raised and their relationship with their parents has even more of an effect. 'They usually lacked an affectionate, warm, unconditionally accepting parent or parents, and as a result, they grew up craving a sort of identity and authority in their relationships," Saunders said. "Having no feeling of equality in the home, the child can't grasp the concept of equality." Saunders feels it is important to reach children with important concepts of equality. Her organization tries to implement programs in New York public schools to help counteract some of the messages that many children re-See Racism page 5 Gender equity compliance needs boost By Patrick Parkinson campus affairs editor-The Signpost As society continues to diversify, enormous pressure is placed on its institutions to comply with legislation like Title IX. Created by the federal office of civil rights, Title IX attempts to provide all students, regardless of gender, comparable athletic opportunities. Weber State University's level of Title IX compliance was discussed Thursday by four experts from across WSU's campus. Issues were raised concerning the campus' proportion of male and female athletes compared to students. This proportion comprises an important element of Title IX 's three-prong test for determining legal compliance. "Title IX of the 1 972 Education Amendment applies to lots of different aspects of how institutions operate, but where it gets the most publicity is in the area of athletics," director of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, Barry Gomberg said. Title IX began requiring universities to provide equally for male and female student athletes with a proportional number of athletic offerings. Gomberg explained a three-prong test developed by the office of civil rights for determining if a university is acting within the boundaries of the law. The test applies to secondary schools as well as higher education. "The first part of the test is proportionality," Gomberg said. "What that basically means is that a school will be considered in compliance if the percentage or proportion of male to female athletes is approximately equal to the percentage of male to female students in the student body." Gomberg said when WSU began working on this proportion about six years ago, the school was off by over 20 percent. "We are how below 10 percent," he said. "Nine percent, however, is not close enough." Title IX calls for compliance within five percent. "We do not satisfy the proportionality," Gomberg said. A factor often having a tremendous effect on a university's proportionality is their football program. Because of the staggering size of many university football programs, it's difficult for an institution to provide a proportional number of female athletic offerings. WSU, in the past few years, has taken two major steps toward satisfying the second prong of the Title IX test. By reintroducing women's golf and promoting women's soccer from a club level to NCAA intercollegiate play, Gomberg said, the univer- See Equity page 3 Budget cuts squeeze out staff positions By Colleen K. Hales news writer-The Signpost As the second year of the budget-reduction plan slices more out of the university's and its departments' budgets, some Weber State University staff positions are disappearing. The university has cut 20 staff positions over the last two years. Fortunately, these positions were eliminated through attrition, but service departments are finding the work is only increasing while the staff is not. The purchasing office had two buyer positions cut when the director retired. One purchaser moved into the director's position at a lower salary, and his position was not replaced. Another position was simply eliminated when a second buyer retired. This saved $44,000 for the current year. "We're struggling," said Fred Hansen, di- WSU's Budget Signpost series'Part 6 of 6 rector of purchasing. " We're not really getting it done." Hansen said the purchasing staff is working with two new services, so they can meet demands: electronic requisitioning and a purchasing card. Departments can use electronic requisitioning to cut down on the paperwork and red tape. See Budget page 5 ' -I at I 1 v - i ft vu i id -3-I 1 j KWCR general manager Cody Loveland and sister Tessa Loveland (above) pay tribute to Vanilla Ice at Fun Flicks held Thursday in the Junction. The first activity of its kind at WSU, Fun Flicks gave students a chance to perform in an interactive music video. Sponsored by the Off Broadway committee from WSU's Campus Activities Board, students were able to choose from a variety of musical works spanning several decades. Students (right) had a tubular time with their rendition of the Beach Boys' classic "Surfin' Safari." 'I 4 I -; 1 rl! inside post news seepage 2 &3 1 editorial see page 4 a&e see page 6 SpOftS see page 10 classifieds ... .see page 12